NAIROBI
(Xinhua) --A global aid
agency, World Vision on Wednesday appealed for 92
million U.S. dollars to respond to the needs of 22
million people—half of them children—across East Africa
facing hunger crisis.

The aid agency warned the
humanitarian hunger crisis could result in the deaths of
thousands of children if action is delayed.

"The window of opportunity to avert a hunger crisis
is rapidly closing," Margaret Schuler, Vice President of
World Vision in East Africa Region said in a statement
released in Nairobi.

"We can make a difference if governments,
international donors and humanitarian actors act swiftly
to meet the needs of affected communities and keep
children, women and their families alive," she added.

The appeal has been launched to address the rapidly
deteriorating crisis that is a result of a deadly mix of
drought, conflict, economic shocks and migration.

Famine is already gripping parts of South Sudan,
while areas of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are on the
brink of a catastrophe.

The aid agency said the situation for children and
their families is alarming and urgent action by
governments and humanitarian agencies is needed.

World Vision said its interventions will address the
most acute needs in an attempt to save lives, with a
particular focus on children.

"World Vision is already on the ground responding to
the immediate needs of affected communities in all four
countries.

"The needs are great and a slow reaction will likely
see millions more affected by this crisis over the next
six months," the agency said.

World Vision is providing emergency food rations and
highly nutritious supplements for children with
malnutrition; ensuring children have access to their
most basic needs.

"This is only possible in areas where we have the
ability to reach communities safely," it said.

Many more affected communities are unreachable due to
insecurity within some of our response areas.

In South Sudan, where famine has already hit hard,
the numbers of those needing life-saving assistance is
now at more than 50 percent of the population.

Many communities in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are
facing the most devastating drought in more than a
decade, with more than 15 million people in these
countries without a consistent daily meal..

EARLIER REPORT:

Britain calls for
more support to drought-hit Somalia

MOGADISHU Somalia (Xinhua)
--British Foreign Secretary
Boris Johnson on Wednesday called on the international
community to ramp up support for the drought
intervention measures in Somalia, noting the situation
was worsening.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Somalia
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Johnson said his
country was stepping up support to Somalia and hoped
other countries could follow suit as Somalia risks
plunging into full-scale famine.

A massive increase in humanitarian assistance is
urgently needed to avert a famine, with humanitarian
agencies estimating that 6.2 million drought-affected
Somalis are in need of assistance, including food, water
and sanitation, health and nutrition, protection and
shelter.

The foreign secretary said emergency and sustained
efforts could cut off the risk of famine in Somalia and
avoid a possible 2011 scenario.

Over 250,000 people perished during the 2011 famine
in Somalia.

"We feel that this time it’s better than 2011; we
feel that this time the response from Somalia is faster.

"So we are hopeful that there won’t be many people
who will suffer and the appalling malnutrition we saw
the last time," said Johnson.

Aid agencies and the UN have warned Somalia could
fall into famine and the UN Secretary-General Antonnio
Guteres re-affirmed that statement last week here,
noting the window of opportunity was fast closing.

The UN chief said more deaths could be seen as a
result of cholera outbreak that is easily transmitted
given the water shortages and drought-related
vulnerabilities.